Test cricket is the dream of any cricketer. It is difficult to get a place in the history books if you do not play in the Tests despite the historic achievements in limited overs matches. A great career in Test cricket is possible only if patience, class and talent all come together. It is always difficult to reach magical score of 10,000 runs in any form of cricket especially in Test cricket. Only a handful of players have been able to achieve this. Let’s take a look at the five fastest batsmen to score 10,000 Test runs.
3. Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid the Great Wall of India is third on the list. Dravid achieved this feat in 206 innings. He completed this feat in March 2008 against South Africa. Dravid scored 13288 runs in 164 Tests. The average is 52.31. Dravid has 36 centuries, five double centuries and 63 half-centuries. The highest score was 270 runs.
2. Ricky Ponting
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is in second place. He reached the 10k mark in 196 innings. He reached this milestone in 2008 against the West Indies. Ponting has scored 13778 runs in Tests at an average of 51.85. He has scored 41 centuries, six double centuries and 62 fifties. He has a highest score of 257 runs.
1. Kumar Sangakkara
Former Sri Lanka captain and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara completed 10,000 runs in 195 innings. Sangakkara, a left-handed batsman, crossed the milestone in 2005 against Australia. Sangakkara scored 12,400 runs in Tests at an average of 57.40. Sangakkara has 38 centuries, 11 double centuries and 52 half-centuries. His highest score was 319 runs.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar also completed 10,000 Test runs in 195 innings. Tendulkar achieved this feat in 2005 against Pakistan. He has 15921 runs from 200 Tests. The average is 53.79. Tendulkar has scored 51 centuries, six double centuries and 68 half-centuries. Most runs and centuries in Tests are in Tendulkar’s name.
1. Brian Lara
Brian Lara of the West Indies, who can be described as a Test legend, was one of the fastest to achieve this feat. Lara reached this magical number from 195 innings as well. Lara achieved this feat in the 2004 Test series against England. At the end of his career, Lara scored 11953 runs from 232 innings at an average of 52.88, including 34 centuries and 48 fifties. The highest individual score of 400 in Tests is in Lara’s name.
